Consider the following statements about the limitations of planning:
(A) The limitation ‘Planning is a time-consuming process’ means that sometimes little time is left for implementing the plans.
(B) The limitation ‘Planning involves huge costs’ refers to costs in terms of time and money.
(C) The limitation ‘Planning leads to rigidity’ means that managers may not be in a position to change a pre-decided plan.
(D) The limitation ‘Planning does not guarantee success’ refers to plans of the top management being just implemented by the rest of the members.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → (A), (B) and (C) only
(A) The limitation ‘Planning is a time-consuming process’ means that sometimes little time is left for implementing the plans. — Correct. Plans can take so long to draw up that little time is left to put them into action.
(B) The limitation ‘Planning involves huge costs’ refers to costs in terms of time and money. — Correct. Forming a plan uses time and money, for example in checking facts.
(C) The limitation ‘Planning leads to rigidity’ means that managers may not be in a position to change a pre-decided plan. — Correct. A fixed plan decides the future course, and managers cannot easily change it.
(D) The limitation ‘Planning does not guarantee success’ refers to plans of the top management being just implemented by the rest of the members. — Incorrect. This describes planning reduces creativity. Planning does not guarantee success because a plan that worked before may not work again.
NCERT (2026-27 Edition): “(i) Planning leads to rigidity: In an organisation, a well-defined plan is drawn up with specific goals to be achieved within a specific time frame. These plans then decide the future course of action and managers may not be in a position to change it. This kind of rigidity in plans may create difficulty. Managers need to be given some flexibility to be able to cope with the changed circumstances. Following a pre-decided plan, when circumstances have changed, may not turn out to be in the organisations interest.” “(iii) Planning reduces creativity: Planning is an activity which is done by the top management. Usually the rest of the members just implements these plans. As a consequence, middle management and other decision makers are neither allowed to deviate from plans nor are they permitted to act on their own. Thus, much of the initiative or creativity inherent in them also gets lost or reduced. Most of the time, employees do not even attempt to formulate plans. They only carry out orders. Thus, planning in a way reduces creativity since people tend to think along the same lines as others. There is nothing new or innovative.” “(iv) Planning involves huge costs: When plans are drawn up huge costs are involved in their formulation. These may be in terms of time and money for example, checking accuracy of facts may involve lot of time. …” “(v) Planning is a time-consuming process: Sometimes plans to be drawn up take so much of time that there is not much time left for their implementation.” |